Match Report: Round 8

Melbourne made it three straight wins with a runaway 69-point victory on a grim Saturday evening at the Gabba for Gold Coast.

The Demons huffed and puffed for three quarters and eventually blew the doors off the SUNS' house with an eight-goal final term, winning 21.20 (146) to 11.11 (77).

Tom McDonald continued his rich vein of form since returning from a foot injury, kicking five goals, while young midfielder James Harmes chipped in with a career-high 33 disposals.

On a night when they equalled the AFL record for most inside 50s with 83, Melbourne could have, and possibly should have, won by more, such was their dominance.

Nothing should be taken away from the Demons, who apart from five minutes in the second quarter and another five in the third, blanketed their opposition and did not relent.

Mitch Hannan and Jesse Hogan kicked three goals apiece – the latter's all in a rampant last term – while livewire Charlie Spargo added two, as did the returning Christian Salem.

Max Gawn had the best of his duel with Jarrod Witts, feeding a hungry midfield led by Harmes, Clayton Oliver (29 disposals and 11 clearances), Nathan Jones (25) and Angus Brayshaw (24).

Melbourne has now beaten Essendon, St Kilda and Gold Coast in successive weeks ahead of a date with Carlton next Sunday.

For the SUNS, Jack Martin (19 disposals and four goals) played almost a lone hand on a night when David Swallow (knee) did not return for the final quarter and captain Steven May made contact with an umpire, although it appeared to be inadvertent.

After getting within 18 points of the Demons at the 22-minute mark of the third quarter, Gold Coast hardly gave a yelp.

It continued a disturbing trend for Stuart Dew's men, who have won just one final term this season and averaged 13 points.